Glow lamp



Jan. 26, 1932,

R. M. HEINTZ GLOW LAMP Filed May 6, 1930 INVENTOR,

RALPH M. HE/NTZ. MAW

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 26 1932 UNITED STATES- PATENT. OFFICE RALPH M. HEI Tz,or PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB 'ro HEINTZ & KAUFMAN, 1.2m, or .sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION or NEVADA GLOW LAI IP Application filed May 6, 1980. Serial No. 450,166.

My invention relates to glow lamps or glow tubes such as are used to form illuminated letters for advertising purposes Among the objects of my invention are: To provide a glow lamp which does not require a special transformer, but may be used at the voltages provided by ordinary electrical distribution systems; to provide a lamp which is not limited as to the length of its sections, and in which sections of various lengths may be connected in parallel; and to provide a lamp which is economical both as regards first cost and servicing cost.

My invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variantv embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

- Figure 1 is an elevation showing an elec-' trode assembly as used in the lamp of my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view, on a larger scale than the first figure, showing one of the spacing beads in section.

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section,

of a sign letter embodying my invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 14' of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a sign letter comprising a plurality of links or sections of unequal lengt In general terms, my invention comprises a pair of parallel linear electrodes, which are equal in length to the active length of the glow lamp. Means, preferably'comprising insulating beads having parallel perforations therein, are spaced along the electrodes to maintain them in the proper relative position. The electrodes are enclosed in a suit- I able tubular envelope having an inside diameter such that the spacing means on the electrodes may slide readily therein. The envelope may be bent into the form of any letter desired. The leads from the two electrodes are preferably brought out at opposite ends of the envelope, so that the resistance drop between the electrodes may be made to takeplace at 110 volts, 220 volts, or other standard distribution voltage, and since the length of the gas path is independent of the length of the envelope, letters of different lengths, or unequal length sectionsor links of the same letter, may be connected in parallel to the distribution system,

The electrode system is made up as is shown inFigure 1, and comprises electrodes 10 and 11. These are preferably made of wire which is flexible but resilient, so that it may be deformed but will tend to return to its original shape, and so that'the electrodes will tend to maintain their parallelism.

Threaded upon the electrodes are beads 12 which are pierced by the parallel perforations 13. These beads may be either uniformly or non-uniformly spaced along the electrodes, and are positioned on the Wires by suitable means such as the deformation 15, in the present instance flattened spots upon the wire.

The electrode structure is inserted within a tubular envelope 16 which is shaped in the form of a letter to be represented. The diameter of the beads is such that they will slide easily within the tubular envelope, and hold the electrodes centrally positioned therein. 7

The envelope may be formed in the desired shape either before or after the electrode known in conne'ctionwith glow lamp prac tice. The path of the glow discharge between gas path between the electrodes is a constant,

and the discharge will take place uniformly thruout the envelope. The gas path may be i made sufficiently short so that the lamp will operate on 110 volts, 220 volts, or other voltage which is customarily used in electric pow-er distribution.

This enables the manufacturer of sign letters having links which vary greatly in length, as is shown in Figure 5, and these links may be connected in parallel to the,

regular lighting or power system without the use of special transformers.

It will be noted that the electrode structure is extremely rigid in the plane of the two electrodes, and is' extremely flexible at right angles to this plane. The position occupied by the electrode structure within the letters is therefore always perpendicular to the plane of the letters, andit follows that there are no serious irregularities in apparent illumination due to variations of the plane of the elecsimple straight or curved tubular structures.

In the drawings the free ends 20 of the electrodes are shown as being bent out of the general plane in which the electrodes lie. This is done merely to make clear the plan of connections, as the electrodes are preferably arranged perpendicular to the plane of the letters thruout their entire length.

I claim 1. A glow lamp comprising a pair of wire electrodes, and insulating beads threaded upon said electrodes to maintain a substantiallyuniform spacing therebetween.

2. A glow lamp comprising a tubular envelope, a pair of'parallel linear electrodes within said envelope, and beads threaded upon said electrodes to maintain a substantially uniform spacing therebetween and to position said electrodes within the envelope.

3. A glow lamp comprising-atubular envelope, a pair of' flexible resilient wire electrodes extending substantially the length of said envelope, insulating beads positioned on said wires and of a diameter to slide easily within the tube to position the electrodes therein, and connections for said electrodes extending thru opposite ends of the envelope.

l. A glow lamp comprising a tubular envelope, a pair of parallel linear electrodes uniform spacing-therebetween and to-position said electrodes within the envelope, and deformations formed on the electrodes adjacent said beads for permanently positioning the beads on the electrodes.

6. In a glow lamp, an-electrode structure comprising a pair of parallel wires, and insulating beads having parallel perforations therein threaded on said wires for maintaining their relative position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

RALPH M: HEINTZ.

within said envelope, beads threaded upon said electrodes to maintain a substantially uniiorm spacing therebetween and to posi- 

